National Aquarium Joins Star-Spangled Spectacular Celebrations

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In honor of the Star-Spangled Spectacular, the National Aquarium will host a series of Star-Spangled-themed events beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The weeklong commemoration will begin with a welcome ceremony for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s oceanic exploration vessel, the Okeanos Explorer, which will be docked at National Aquarium’s Pier 4 and open to visitors throughout the week.

The second half of the 2014 Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series will also begin on Sept. 10 with a lecture entitled “The Battle of Baltimore: How Our Harbor Helped Define America.” The event is co-sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Press and the Maryland Historical Society and will feature an expert panel of historians and authors discussing the significance of the Inner Harbor in United States history. For more information and reservations, visit www.aqua.org/lecture.

On Friday, Sept. 12, the National Aquarium will host the last of its Star-Spangled Friday Nights. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore in 1812 and “The Star-Spangled Banner,” all guests entering the National Aquarium on Friday evening after 5:00 p.m. will enjoy a special admission price of $18.12. Families who visit the Aquarium on Sept. 12 can participate in a special star-spangled themed scavenger hunt and enjoy animal encounters. Snacks and beverages, including beer and wine, will also be available for purchase. [Please see below for additional details.]

Additional free outdoor entertainment and interactive activities including live music and special appearances from Captain Barnacles Bear and Kwazzi Kitten of “The Octonauts” will be available under the Pier 4 tent from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

For more information, visit www.aqua.org/summer.

Note regarding Star-Spangled Friday Nights: All activities and exhibits in the building are free with price of admission. Guests may purchase these reduced-rate tickets at the ticket counter or online at aqua.org. Last entry through the ticket counter is 7:45 p.m. and last available entry time for online ticket purchases is 7:30 p.m. Ticket cost will be automatically reduced for online purchases when guests select an entry time of 5:00 p.m. or later. Guests can roam the exhibits until 9:30 pm. No promotional code is required.